Brief bag



April 17, 1928. 6

T. W. JOHNSON BRIEF 6A Filed March' 12, 1927 F fill-IIIII II Patented Apr, 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

- TITIAN W. JOHNSON, OF POTOMA C BEACH, VIRGINIA.

BRIEF IBAG.

Application filed March 12, 1927. Serial No. 174,855.

This invention relates to an improved brief bag.

It very frequently happens that an attempt is made to carry articles of wearing 6 apparel and toilet articles, in brief bags of ordinary construction, when one is making a short trip, as for instance, an overnight trip, for which only a few of such articles are required and where it is not convenient l or necessary to carry a large handbag or rlp.

VVhen articles of the character mentioned are stored in a brief bag, in the pockets or compartments intended solely for papers or flat articles, they cause the pockets or compartments to'bulgeand interfere with the proper and neat closing of the bag, and distort the shape of the'bag as a whole. Furthermore, it is not desirable to display personal belongmgs 1n the way of toilet artioles, etc., when the bag is opened to tempo-' rarily remove the papers.

The object of this invention, in view of the foregoing, is to provide a brief bag with a section, which while not adding, objectiona'bly, t0 the thickness of the case as a whole, will, nevertheless provide ample space for a supply of wearing apparel,and toilet articles suflicient for a short trip, the apparel section being entirely independent of the other, or papers section, closure entirely independent. By this arrangement it is feasible and convenient when desiring access only to the papers section to open only that section, the other section meanwhile serving as a rest for the bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case which will include an apparel section that can be 'opened widely, and flat- 40 wise so as to expose all of the contents of the receptacle, so that a person may readily select from the lot, such things as are required without mussing the others. Furthermore, it is an object to glve to this receptacle or section, rigidity, and thereby prevent mussing of the articles of apparel when its closure is shut and the brief bag being carried.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brief ba Figure 2 is a similar view, with the apparel section open, showing the interior of the apparel compartment.

, apparel section.

and closed by a I Figure 3 is a'detail sectional view of the .55 upperportion of the bag, the straps being 7 omitted. i

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary perspective showing the manner in which the apers compartment of the bag may be closed Referring to the drawings i The numeral 1 designates the bag as a whole; 2, the section which is provided with suitable compartments for papers, and 3, the

- The papers section may differ in no way from the interior of the ordinary brief bag and may be provided with the usual locks, straps, and buckles, by which the flap is fastened, although, as will presently appear, the mode of application of the straps which extend entirely around the ordinary brief bag, will be modified somewhat, and advantageously, by reason of the construction and mode of attachment of the apparel section,v in that certain parts ofsaid section will serve the purpose as keepers and guides for the straps. Furthermore, the straps, by reason of passing through the bottom of the apparel section may be em loyed to hold down, or in place, and s'tabi ize flat articles that may be placed in the com artment.

Preferably, both sections 0 the bag are made of leather, or leatherisubstitute, and heavier material will be preferably used in the construction of the apparel section so that itsshape, under conditions of use, will be maintained.

Stitched to the back of the papers section is a rectangular member 4, formed with a short flange 5, adapted to lie flat against the back 6, of the papers section and be, stitched thereto by stitches 7. Integral with the flange 5, is a flange 8, at right angles thereto, which latter flange is rabbeted as at 9.

The numeral 10 designates the cover or closure of the apparel section. This comprises the flat portion 11, side flanges 12, and top and bottom flanges 13, the inner edges of said flanges being adapted to fit nicely into the rabbet 9, when the section is closed. The cover or closure may be hinged to the member 4 by hinges 14, or of course it may be secured thereto by any suitable means, as for instance, by stitching, in cases where the material of which the apparel section is made, is sufficiently pliable to permit the use of stitching, or indeed that portion of the member 4 to which the cover is attached, and that portion of the cover itself, where stitching would occur, may be purposely made lighter to facilitate stitching. However, the means of attaching the cover to the member 4 may be varied, and those means employed, that are most suitable for the purpose, or

i found to be more in line with economy and the proprieties of construction.

As shown, the member 4, is of greater depth than the cover, but it will be understood that this may be made shallower, and the cover 10 deeper, as may be more expe dient, since the sole purpose of the combination' is to provide, in the apparel section,

' sufficient space to inclose and conceal articles of apparel, which lie flat, and such toilet articles as are generally used, the

greatest thickness of which characterizes (among usual toilet articles) a brush.

As intimated, many brief bags are made with straps such as 14, that extend entirely around them, suitable keepers being provided to hold and guide the straps. The ends of the straps are usually fastened by buckles at the front of the bag. With the present con parel section and will in no way interfere with packing said section.

As shown, the area of the apparel section is commensurate with the area ofthe papers section, thus providing ample space for ineluding articles of wearing apparel and toilet articles suflicient for short trips.

To hold the cover in closed position there has been illustrated the ordinary type of fastening device, the respective parts of which are indicated by a and b. It will be understood however, that any fastening devices or locks, etc., in common use, which aresuitable, may be employed.

The numeral 17 designates the handle of the bag. In the, present instance this is preferably secured by the usual rings, to tabs 18, stitched partly to the apparel section and partly to the papers section so as to have the point of grip substantially midway (laterally) between the two sections, and thereby insure the balance of the bag when packed.

It will be noted that by reason of the angular member 4, being secured directly to the back of the papers section, the back serves not only as a back for said section, but as the bottom for the apparel section when the bag is placed (most conveniently flat) to gain access to the apparel compartment, in this section. 7

No attempt has been made to divide or partition the apparel section, or to provide pockets therein for the reception of toilet or other articles, but it is to be understood that this may be done as fancy or 'convenience may dictate.

The rectangular frame attached to the back of the papers section (which also forms the bottom of the apparel section) gives rigidity to what becomes the back wall of the rear pocket of the papers section, thereby rendering this pocket particularly adapted for storing and carrying drawings, photos, etc., without danger of breaking or injury thereto. Furthermore, the fact that the bottom of the apparel section is the back wall of" the last pocket of the papers sect-ion and concealed from View, an econom v in manufacture results in that this part1- tion may be of material much less expensive than leather, thus saving a quantity of leather commensurate with that ordinarily constituting the back portion of the ordinary brief bag.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:

1. A travelers article including a brief bag and an apparel case inseparably united to form a unitary article and each having a closure affording access to the respective part when opened while the remaining closure remains shut, and straps extending through the apparel case and around the brief bag whereby articles in the apparel case may be stabilized and the brief case strapped by the same means.

2. In an article of the kind described. a papers section and an apparel section inseparably united, said sections having one wall in common and having independent closures, each of which is operable to open its section without opening the other section, the apparel section being rigid and inexten- 11o sible and forming a rigid support for the papers section. I

3. In an article of the kind described. a papers section and an apparel section, said sections having one wall in common and having independent closures each of which is operable to open its section without opening the other section, and straps extending through the apparel section and around the papers section whereby articles in the apparel section may be stabilized and the papers section simultaneously compressed.

4. In an article of the kind described, a papers section and an apparel section inseparably united, said sections having one Wall in common and having independent closures each of which is operable to open its section without opening the other section, the closure for the apparel section forming a flat cover hinged at one edge to open flatlac cover to wise and expose the contents and the closure for the papers section opening at one edge to permit access to papers therein.

5. In an article of the kind described, a papers section and an apparel section, said sections having one wall in common and having independent closures each of which is operable to open its section without opening the other section, the closure for the apparel section forming a fiat cover hinged at one edge to open flatwise and expose the contents and the closure for the papers section opening at one edge to permit access to papers therein, and straps extending through the apparel section and around the papers section whereby articles in the apparel section may be stabilized and the papers sec-' tion simultaneously compressed.

6. A travelers article including abrief bag and an apparel case inseparably united to form a unitary article and each having a closure afi'ording access to the respective part when opened while the remaining closure remains shut, the closure for the apparel case opening flatwise to expose apparel therein and the closure for the brief case opening at the edge of the case to conceal the faces of the papers therein, and straps extending through the apparel section and around the papers section whereby articles in the apparel sectionmay be stabilized and the papers section. simultaneously compressed.

7. The combination with a brief case having a back cover; of a narrow flange member permanently fixed to said back cover and extending at right angles to the cover around said back cover adjacent its periphery to form a shallow box, and a lid for the box mounted to swing and close and open said box.

8. The combination with a brief case having a back cover; of a flange member fixed to said back cover and extending at right angles -to the cover around said back cover adjacent its periphery to form a shallow box, a lid for the box mounted to swing and close and open said box, said flange having portions spaced from the back to provide strap openings, and straps extending through the openings and around the brief case to form stabilizing means for articles in said box and compression means for the brief case.

9. The combination with a brief case having a back cover, a strip substantially L- shaped in cross section extending around the periphery of the back cover, one leg of the strip being secured to the back cover and the other leg rojecting at right angles to the orm an apparel section, and a closure for said apparel section hinged to the projecting leg of the strip adjacent one edge of the back cover.

10. The combination with a brief ease having a back cover, a strip substantially L- shaped in cross section extending around the periphery of being substantially L-shaped in cross section, one leg of the strip bein secured to the back cover and the other eg projecting at right angles to the cover to form an apparel section, a closure for said apparel section hinged to the projecting leg of the strip adjacent one edge of the back cover, said strip being offset from the back cover at spaced points to provide strap keepers, and straps extendingvthrough said keepers and around the brief case.

11. In an article of the kind described, a papers section and an apparel'section, said sections being separated from each other by a single rigid partition wall forming the side of the papers section and the bottom of the apparel section, and independent closures for said sections, section closing parallel to said wall and the closure for the papers section closing one edge of said papers section.

12. A brief case having an expansible pocket, the rear wall of which is made rigid by the permanent attachment of a still boxlike member.

13. A brief case having a plurality of expansible pockets, the rear wall of the last pocket being made rigid by the attachment of a still box-like member.

14. A brief case having an expansible pocket, the rear wall of which is made rigid y the attachment of a stiff box-like member, said box-like member including a cover arranged to swing at one edge toward and from the pocket portion.

15. A brief case having'a plurality of expansible pockets, the rear wall, of the last pocket bein made rigid by the attachment of a stiff x-like member, said box-like member including a cover arranged to swing at one edge toward and from the pocket portion. 16. A brief case including an exp'ansible papers section having permanently associated therewith an apparel section com rising a shallow box-like member adapte in addition to serving as an apparel container, to brace the papers section against bodily flexure.

17. A brief case including a papers section rovided with-pockets and having expansi 1e edge portions, and a stiff box-like member forming an apparel section and permanently secured to the papers section to stiffen the same against bodily flexure, said apparel section including a cover member and a body on which said cover closes.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signathe backcover, said strip the closure for the apparel ion 

